Flue cleaning, cutting, and handling machine



A ril 24,1928.

FLUE

gs 63 53 G o 3 11,1. Lg J 55 1,667,388 J. T. MCGRATH CLEANING, CUTTING, AND HANDLING- MACHINE I Filed Aug. 25, L924 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 17 ML P477 14 11 .1 T. M GRAT H '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1924 April 24, 1928.

FLUE CLEANING, CUTTING, AND HANDLING MACHINE April 24, 1928. 1,667,388

J. T. M GRATH FLUE CLEANING, CUTTING, AND HANDLING MACHINE:

Filed Aug. 25, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet A ril 24, 1928.

J. T. M GRATH FLUE CLEANING, CUTTING, AND HANDLING MACHINE Filed A 25. 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. T. M GRATH FLUE CLEANING, CUTTING, AND HANDLING MACHINE April 24, 1928.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 25, 1924 1,667,388 J. "r. MCGRATH FLUE CLEANING, CUTTING, AND HANDLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25. 1924 7 sheets-sheet 6 20 i 79/ 7.93 z L Patented Apr. I 24, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. MCGRA H, or BLOOMINGTON. ILLINOIS.

FLUE CLEANING, CUTTING, AND HANDIJNG MACHINE.

Application filed August 25 1924. Serial K0 7 33377.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for. cleaning boiler hues and other like uses, and of that type in which the external scale is removed from thefl ues by the application of a series of cleaning elements adapted for engagement with the exterior of the flue through relativerotation of the fine or elements when in contact;

An object of the invention is to improve his general type of flue cleaner with respect to simplicity of construction and op eration; speed of cleaning the fines; speed of applying the fines to the machine and removing them therefrom; "to a novel cleaning element unit, embracing in-dependentlyro t-atable, toothed rolls rotative on coaxial aXes; to means for connecting. the tines arotative driving part whereby they" can be rotated against the cleaning elements; to means for varying. the cleaning pressure on the lines; to means for advancing plural cleaners toward and retracting them from the lines; to pneumatic'means, controlled by valves and located at a fixed operators station to actuate the several elements of the machine; to means for supporting the fines, in the machine, adapted t-o operateon-tlues of different lengths; to means for adjust iug the lines on and removing them from said driving meehanisnu to 'means for cutting the flues while in the machine in readiness for welding and for enabling the'cut ends to be removed so. that safe ends can be welded to the lines while in the machine; and to otherwise simplify and improve flue cleaning machines.

In the drawings heretoap 'iended is illustrated an embodiment of my invention wherein the elements of the invention are assembled to produce an zoperative machine embodying the principles of my invention, but it will; he understood that thc detailsof the present embodiment, and which are hereinafterspecifically described, maybe varied within the scope of the claims hereto appended without departure from the spirit of the invention, and that it is the intent to claim all of inherent novelty shown in the drawings; and described in thespecificw tion. e

In the drawings: V v

Fig. I is a plan View of-a-machine embodying my invention, broken away to preserve a readable scale within the required dimensions.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof broken away. r Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections on, the respectivelines 33, 4.-t, of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section partly broken away on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line 6-6 of Fig. l. e Figs. -7-and 8 are detail sections on lines 77 and ,8 -8, respectively, of Fig. ,1.

Fig; 9 is an end view of the machine looking toward the front end thereof. v

'01s a broken transverse section on line 1010 of Fig.1.

Figs. 11 and 12 are, respectively, transverse'and' plan vicws of the maehine showing the application of'a tool audits applianccs to perform in theni achine, the end 'an'd cylindric facing welding-in a flue welding machine.

Figs. .13 and l4 are details taken on the respective lines 13.1i-laiid141l of Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is a detail longitudinal section of the machine showing the fiuelifti'ngsaddles and their operating means. e

16 is a fragmentarysection on line 1616 of Fig.1,

Fig-.117 a verticaldetail section on line 1717 of "Fig. 16. 7

Fig. 18is an enlarged longitudinal section on line l818 of Fig. 3. Fig. 19 is an enlarged transversesection on line'l919of Fig. 5.

F 19;, 20 is a fragmentary side elevation of the flue driving chuck, partially broken away. i v i Fig. 21 isa fragmentary detail of one of the jaws of the flue driving chuck. The frame ofthe machine comprises front and rear pedestals l'tl, 11 and intermediate pedestals 12, on which are supported and to whichare fastened parallel frame bars, 13 of of the flue in" readiness forv channel cross section with their flanges directcd outwardly to constitute between them a longitruhnal upwardly opening chamber I l--within which are disposed flue cleaning elements and into which the lines are placed for cleaning.between said elements and from there ren'iov ed. The frame bars 13 can be connected attheir lower sides, and at places at their upper sides, bv. cross connecting pieces which, taken with the attachment .of

said bars to the pedestals, produce a strong frame structure. 15 designatesa hopper beneath the cleaner chamber having a hinged door .l6, sn itably hinged to the proper sup.-

port, the door, being made in sections and each locked by a lock 17. In the description of the machine which follows, that end of the machine at the left (Figures 1 and 2) will be termed as the front of the machine; the other being termed as the rear of the machine. The supporting pedestals may take on any suitable form but the intermediate pedestals are shown as fabricated to support the air cylinders 18, whose function it is to raise and lower the fine supporting saddles 19, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Primarily. it may be said that the valve controls, which are lo *atcd at the front. of the machine, embrace a plurality of valve casings or boxes 20, 21., 2 2, 23, 24, 25, herein being shown sir; in all. Each one is operative to control a given function of the machine, as will hereinafter appear, and said valves are operated by handles 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. These valve handles are of general L-shape in side elevation, as will appear from an inspection of Figures 7 and 8. Some of them have elongated toes 32 (Figure 7) disposed at a right angle to the handle to engage and depress an associated valve stem, and are pivoted to the boxes in such a way that they are quickly opened by suitable springs after valves have been opened thereby through manual power. Others of said handles have cam shaped toes 33 (Figure 8) to bear on their associated valve stems, and their pivots are so disposed that when the levers are swung inwardly past centers of their pivots, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, the cam shaped toes become operative to lock open the associated valves, as will hereinafter appear.

Each valve is a duplicate of the other, except that some are operated by the cammed levers and are adapted to lock their valves opened after manual pressure is released, while others have a quick snapping closing. The connection of each valve to the mechanism which it controls will hereinafter be explained in association with a particular function of the machine to be controlled by said valve. In the following description the internal mechanism of one valve will serve as a description for all of the valves, the valve structures being best shown in Figures 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9, wherein it will be seen that the series of said bodies are mounted on a horizontal bracket 34 extending laterally from and fixed to aside bar 13.

The details of a valve'structure are shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and will now be described.

Each valve body, ,with a downwardly opening inlet chamber 35, is attached to a bracket 3e by the screws shown, and there is an air tight fit between the valve bod; and the bracket, as by a packing between the parts. Air is continuously delivered at working pressure to the valve chambers 35 through laterals 3G in open communication with a manifold 37 connected to a suitable source of air under pressure. Each valve body is provided above the inlet opening with an outlet opening 38, to which is con nected an outlet air supply pipe 39 which leads to mechanism whose operation is controlled by said valve; all said latter pipes, for convenience, being, for simplicity, designated by the same numeral. Between the inlet and outlet chambers of the valve body is formed a shoulder 40 that constitutes a seat for a main cut-off valve 41. Said valve is normally urged against said seat by a spring 12. The stem 43 of said valve 41 extends upwardly into the outlet chamber 38 and into a downwardly opening cup 44. and is slidable insaid body, there being a light spring 45 interposed between the end of the main valve stem and the bottom of the cup. Extending upwardly fromthe cup and preferably made integral therewith is a contact stem 46 which is actuated by contact with the toe 32 or 33 of the lever 23 or 27. As before stated, the toes of these lovers are of difierent formation, the toes 32 being disposed at right angles to the axes of their handles, and the pivots 4:7 of these latter le vers are disposed at the angle of the toes and main shank portions of the valve levers. Therefore when manual pressure to open these valves is released the springs 42 snap the valves 41 closed firmly. The toes of the lock down valve handles are cam shaped and are integral with their hand pieces. They are pivoted at 18 to fixed parts of the valve assembly, so that when the levers having the cam shaped toes are swung inwardly on their pivots to swing their contact portions past their pivots, the cams will automatically lock open valves associated therewith. The contacting stems lti of the valves extend upwardly into notches 51 of the castings constituting the valve bodies and the toes of said levers vibrate on their pivots in said notches. The contact stems 46 extend sutliciently above the floor of the notches to give. ample movement to said stems and their operating levers to properly open the main valves against their seating springs 42. 3

Each valve is formed with an exhaust port 55, and said port is located below the normal position of the skirt of the cup 44: into which. the upper end of a valve stem 43 extends for bearing contact with the spring 45. In operation of the valve, downward movement of the contact stem 46 first acts against the lighter spring 45, to depress said cup 44: downwardly past the exhaust port 55, so that in the continued movement of the two part valve stem thus contrived, the port 55 will be closed by said cup 44 before the main valve 11 is shifted off its seat against the action of the stronger spring 35 to establish communication between the inlet and outlet chambers of the Valve, and also to establish communication to the outlet pipe and against piston of the mechanism controlled thereby. Should other means. he employed for controlling the exhaust 55, the valvestem could be made solid. It will be noted that the laterals 36 enter the inlet chamber of the valveibodies eccentrically so as to avoid obstruction of air flow whenthe guide studs for the spring 42 are in their lowermost positions.

\Vithin the upwardly opening tube chamber 14 are mounted a group or seriesof cleaner rolls 60. shown in detailin Figure 18 and as assembled on the machine in Figure 1. These rolls are circumferentially grooved and are sharpened to produce spiral cutting edges 61, and are also longitudinally recessed at 62 to produce abrupt cutting projections at the intersections of 1116611- cum'lerential grooves and longitudinal "re cesses. Each group of cleaner rolls embraces a plurality of cylindric'toothed members which are separately rotatable on their axes so that differentpoints along the teeth progressively strike the scaled flue to be cleaned, and so also that the longitudinal recesses 62, producing the abrupt cutting teeth, will be variedly spaced angularly about the rolls and thus produce the periods of cutting impact of the rolls against a positively driven fine and more effectively deface the scale therefrom.

The rolls of each group. are suspended through the shafts 63 and parallel arms '64; (Figure 3) of av suspending bracket, the arms of which arepivoted on a rod 65 supported in 'a U-shaped bracket 66 fixedinariy suitable way to the inner side of the frame bars 13.. The arrangement is. such that the cutter rolls tend to swing away from the fine and tend to drop away therefrom by gravity, but are positively but resiliently forced into engagement withtheflue. Thereare a series of such cutting roller groups along both. sides of the chamber lhand groups at one side of the chamber, as a whole, are preferably disposed in staggered relation relatively to the groups .at the other side of the chamber, so that theflue is'properly covered aiong its entire length to be cleaned.

Said groups of cleaner rolls are-disposed above a pluralityof cradle rolls which are properly spaced along the bottom of the chamber, there being a sufficient number of these rolls and preferably spaced apart to support fines of different lengths, whena flue F is connected toits driving mechanism which turns the flue against the cleaner rolls. The flue is thus rotated by connection at its frontend-with a positive drivingclutch 77, hereinafter to be described,.while the flue is restingon the cradle rolls or upon the cutters themselves when the thickness of the .79fixed to and extending laterally from the frame bars 81 (Figure 18) designates a late -ally disposed thrust pin associated with each set of, rolls; Each pm extends laterally and loosely through'the bracket .79 and the associated channel plate 13. It is provided with a beveled outer end to engage an inwardly beveled or cam face 82 of the thrust bars78', and extends inwardly through the, bracket .7 9 and through the. frame bar 13 for. connection to a spring 83 (Figure 18), herein shownas having the form of a semi-ellipticalspring. "Each spring engages at its ends the sustaining rollcarrier in the manner showninFigure 18, and the bracket is [provided with an opening Seth-rough which. the inner end of the thrust pin pass when power is exertedthereon to force the cutter orcleaner rolls inwardly towards the fines. In this position the spring 83 will be flattened. There are a number of cam surfaces 82'at each side of the machine oppositeand to correspond with the number of cutter roll groups. It will, therefore, be evident, that when the thrust 78 are forced forwardly from the position indicated inFigu're 18, the pinsSl will be thrust inwardly to act against. the cushioning springs .83 to force the cutter rolls against aflue seated; on thecradle rolls. Conversely, when the thrust bars 78 are moved reanwardly, the cutter rolls will be released from the fines, the release beingpermitted-by the straightening of the springs83 and gravity of the rollsat their mountings.

The means foruaetuating said thrust, bars 78 to move them forwardly and rearwardly are made asfollows:

j 87 designates ahrockpshaft monnted'in bearingsbeiow the channel bars 13 near the front end of the machine." 88 designates a crank arm fixed to oneend of said rock shaft. 89, 89, :lesignates arms fast to and extendingupwardly from the rock shaft, one at each end ofsaid shaft. Saidarms are connected, at-their upper ends to theforward ends of the thrust bars by loose or hinged conneeting joints 90. A link 91 is connected at its ends to saidcrankarm 88 and 'the rod 9210f. a piston 93,:w-hieh; reciprocates in ,aecylinder 94s that is bracket Econnected to the front pedestal. ofthe machine.

I no

In said cylinder 94; at the sides of said piston are air connecting nipples 96, 97, the former being connected through the pipe 39 to its associated valve 22, and the other connected through pipe 39 to its associated valve 21. When air has been admitted through the nipple 97 through the action of the valve lever 27 to the front end of the cylinder 9%, the force of the air acts through the thrust bars and pins to force the cutter rolls towards the flue, which can be rotated bet-ween the rolls, through the action of the drive clutch 77 referred to. The hand lever for this movement of the cleaner rolls towards the fine, is a camined lever and locks the valve open for continuous action of the rolls on the flue. Upon partial closing of the connection through nipple 97 to air, which is accomplished by partially swinging back of the lever 27, and to, at the same time, open the valve 21 to admit air through inlet 96 to the other side of'the piston 93, the thrust bars will be shifted in a direction to cause the inclined ends of the thrust pins 81 to travel down on the cam surfaces 82 of the thrust bars and thereby permit the cutter rolls to be'released from the rotating flue. An adjusting nut (Fig nres 1, 2 and 3) 98 is threaded to thatportion of the front end of the piston rod 92 which extends through the cylinderand the adjacent stuffing box. Surrounding said rod 92 between said adjacent stufiing box and the nut 98, is a sleeve 92 and projecting from the adjacent end of the cylinder which serves in connection with said nut to limit movement of the thrust bars in a di rection to force the cutter rolls toward each other; and this movement can be varied to adjust the cutters to fines of different diameters or having different thickness of scale coating. The employment of sleeves 92 of dili'creni. lengths will vary the range of adjustment. of the cutters.

The fines are disposed into fine cleaning position by lirst placing them on saddles two herein shown, that surmount the upper ends of rods 101 when the saddles are raised upwardly to the top of the chamber lat, and then dropping them down to cleaning position. As shown, the lower ends of the rods 101 extend through stufiing boxes into vertical cylinders and have at their lower ends pistons 103 (Figure 15). The cylinders are mounted on the intermediate pedestals, as shown in Figure 15. Air is admitted to said cylinders below the pistons 103 to raise-the saddles to receiving position. l i herei'ore air can be allowed to slowly escape from the cylinders to permit the pistons and saddles to drop, with the fine thereon, in cleaning position relatively to the cleaner rolls. 112 designates a cross pipe which extends between and is connected at its ends to the lower ends of said cylinders, and said cross nection between the flue and chuck.

pipe is connected by one of the connecting pipes 39 with the valve 23. This valve has a cam-shaped toe that bears on the engaging stem of its valve structure to hold the valve open and to thus hold the saddles 19 raised in position to receive the fines, the valve being locked during the time the saddles are loaded. Thereafter said valve 23 can be closed slowly, and, assisted by gravity, the parts carrying the flue will be allowed to drop in position to bring the flue in cleaning position. "he flue finally drops until its weight is borne by the series of saddle rollers 75. Therefore, the saddles 19 are raised by admitted air beneath the pistons, and the saddles will be locked in their upward positions until the clean line is removed and until a scaled flue is loaded on the saddles preparatory to lowering the flue into cleaning position.

When the flue in its cleaning position is disposed with its reduced end opposite to the holding and driving chuck 77, it is thereafter forced cndwise on the chuck and the chuck is expanded to produce a driving con- The fine shown is reduced at one end. The mechanism for so connecting the flue to driving mechanism to rotate the flue in cleaning position is made as follows:

120 (Figure 5) designates a cylindric tubular body constituting part of the front end of the machine. It is coaxial with the rotative axial position of the flue. Fast to or made integral with the front end of said body is a pulley 121, through which power may be applied to rotate the fine driving chuck hereinafter described. The pulley body is formed with acylinder 122, closed at its inner end by an integral wall having a stutiing box for the passage of the stein 123 of a piston 12 1 that rcciprocates in said cylinder 122. The said cylinder is closed at its outer side by a plate 125, which carries anair passage 122 which communi cates with said cylinder in rear of the pieton 124- and connected by one of the pipes 39 with the first valve of the bank of valves, and is operated by a. calm lever of the kind'show'n in Figure 8. Opening of the valve reciprocates the piston 124 outwardly. Said tubular body 120 is reduced at its rear end at 128 over which fits a supporting and guide sleeve 129 constituting part of the flue driving chuck 77 before mentioned. The stem, 123 in the body 120 extends backwardlyinto the bore of the reduced end and is provided at-it's inner end with an outwardly taperedendwise adjustable cone 130 which is movable with the piston 121 and coaxial therewith. The exterior face of said cone is adapted to the inner oblique faces of chuck p'ns 131 which extend through registering openings in the sleeve 129, and the reduced end of the body 120, said pins miss? having heads 132 which lie normally in sockets in the periphery of the sleeve-129 (F igures l9. anClQ-Qy Said sleeve 129 is tapered at its rear end for the-flue to pass. thereover. A cone helical spring 135 lies between the piston end and the plate 125, constituting the front end of said cylinder 122. Said spring is compressed when the piston is moved outwardly, and the storedpower of compression SQlj' eS, when the valve 20 is closed, to force the piston 1% inwardly and thereby unclutch said clutch. 77 from the small dian' eter of the tube end. i

In disposing the flue F in driving relation tothe chuclg the flue is first centered relatively to the chuck after it has been allowed to descend to cleaning position; M

It is then pushed endyvise on the chuck by means here nafter described. Thereafter, air is admitted through the valve 20 in rear of the piston 1% so as to cause said piston and-said cone 130 to travel outwardlyhthe latter along the inclined ends of the clutch pins and thus throw the heads thereof (which are transversely exterionly .rough ened) out against the inner wall of the reduced portion of the flue. this way the flue is chuckedto the flue driver. is admitted in rearof thepiston 124-throngh the inlet port 122 which is connected to one of the valve pipes 39-that is in turn connected to the chamber 35 of the valve 20. Going b ds 0v, t h m an f r 91 ing the reduced end of the flue onthe chuck 77, the same is made as follows:

deslgnates a tl'irust plate that is adapted to engage ontherear open end-of the fluexvh'en in its cleaning position. I 141 designates a rearwardly. extending stem which HAW extends through stufiing box in an adjacent Wall of a push "on cylinder 142that is disposed and supported in any suitable manner, as by the bracket 142, p v the frame, and to which is fixed a piston 14$ that slides in said cylinder with. a packing fiti 144: designates a guide pin which is fixed at its rear end to said thrust plate said Fylinder' to and at its front end to the piston 14:3 eccentrically I i M I This pin l l tserves to. hold the thrust plate fixedly on the piston rod ltl and relatively to said piston. Aspiral coinpression sp-ring 145 surrounds said piston rodivithin the cylinder at the front end of the latter and serves two functions-one to 'c ushion. the forward stroke-bf the'plate 1510. against the end of the flue ivhen air is admittedthrouglr the inlet pipe 39 and 1&6 to thrust theflue on the chuck, and the other to release said thrust plate from the fine when air disconnected from the cylinder on the rear side of said piston.

centrally of 1 ,4

to the rear end of said bar 160. With this withrespectto the piston rod 141. V

A long flexible fhose 156 connects air betweentlie pipe39 andtherear end of the connection 1&6 enables the. be sh fted parkway" and fejgrwardly on the frame to adapt the machine to fluesof different lengths. said push dfi cylinder is s i ppdrted across the channel Walls of the chamber lithr ough the medium of the bracket 142, theflanges 152 of which rest Ont he flanged plate lfithat bound said Means arelocated at the front end of the mariner cutting off a portion of theredncedend I of the tube F. Sa d cutting mechan sm s best shown 1n Figures 1 and 5,

and is made as follows:

3 s s 160 des gnates a cyl ndr c bar wh ch has rec procating and rocklng mounting 1n a cylinder ldl, constituting a fixed or unitary art of the front of the machine frame.

bar 160. is formed at its front end to constitute a piston 162 which i i has sliding movementfin the cylinder 161. Said bar is made of slightly less diameter than the internal. diameter of the cylinder, but engages witha guiding fitan annular ri1n'1 63at the rear end ofs aidfcylinder 161. 165 designates a hardened cutter disk'which has a beveled cutting edge. Itis fastened as center to the rear end ofthe bar 160, as by ineans ofa screw 166,, so that rotation'of said bar ,160

will move the edge of the cutter towards and I I froin the reduced endof the flue vvhen connected tons-aid chuck.

16,7 designates a handlever that is fixed cons ruction t wi be n ted h t whe the rednced end of the flue is fixed on said driving chuck and the hand lever is swung to one side of m n er itsaxis, it will cause the hardened cutting edge of the disk to inoveeccentrically towards. the all of the nduced 1m of the t b t cu Wei 1 T e diskis held on said tube While still rotating.

"w h an e d t is t m the lean r rolls (SQcan he moved by its operating mechanism out f Con ct wit the ro a ng fills):-

Contactiof the cutterivith thefluewih sever the same, and; thereafter air through valve 94 m cron 1 is dmi t d t t e ylinde in frontofthe piston 6 1 it brea he cutterand flue rearwar'dl'y while still in v dfl tact ,With the finer This is done after. the. flue. driving "chuck; is 'dise'ngagedfro n the flue; iTh'e'cut'o'ifportion of the flue is then replaced y a se en "and h Par s a es er to wed ed, ee: memes I and a cylindric facing edge 192.1

is a distinct advantage to construct the machine so that the cutting and welding may be made with a iinimum manual handling of the flue.

In addition to the means for severing or cutting the tube at its reduced end, I have provided means for cutting the flue in its larger diameter, and near its rear end in generally the same way as described. The latter cutter means are generally similar to the front cutting means, with the exception that it is hand operated, and is designed to remove and substitute the rear end of the flue while the flue is still in the machine.

Said latter cutter mechanism embraces a bar 175 that is mounted to be rocked on its axis in a tube or cylinder 176, which is supported centrally of the machine by a suitable bracket 177 and locked in said bracket by a locking device 178. The cylinder mounting or bracket is locked on the frame bv the eccentric locks 179 similar to that decribed in connection with the mounting for the push on cylinder. Eccentrically and rotatively mounted on the front end of the cutter bar 175 is a bevel cutter disk 180,'as by a screw 181. The said rocking cutter'bar 175 is rocked on its axis by a hand lever 182 to bring the cutter into cutting engagement with the tube while the tube is rotated by its driving connection to the chuck 77. After the flue has been severed, the rear length thereof is removed, and if it be desired to braze or weld another length to the flue, the

proper length tube may be lowered on to the cradle rolls '75, and forced with its end against the cut end of the flue by the thrust plate letO, hereinbcfore described, whereupon the tubes can be joined by a proper welding operation while in the machine and during rotation of the flue, if desired.

It sometimes occurs that it is desirable to electrically weld flue ends to a line after it has been cleaned in this machine, and the machine is so constructed and arranged that plain side of one of the channel side members. As shown, the bracket frame is pro vided at its upper end witha hook 186 that lies over the upper flange of the side frame member 13 and embraces the upper flange of sa-id'member, and can be locked to the frame .byniean's of a belt 187. The bolt 187 may extend through a slot 188 of the frame flange so as to. adjust this accessory longitudinally of the machine frame. 8

Said mechanism embraces as a part thereof a steel scraper and endsquaring tool'lSlO that is formed with an end scraper {in .191 V -t is fixed to a sliding tool head 191 which is mounted to slide in and out in a suitable guideway formed by an instanding guide 192'. The tool is attached to the inner end of said sliding tool head by a screw 1,93 and is braced by a backing head or squared shoulder. The sliding tool head is adapted to be forced inwardly towards the tube by a vertically swinging operating lever 195 that is pivoted between its ends at 196to the front stud bracket l97, fixed to the frame 185 in any suitable manner. The lower end of said operating lever extends into and through a notch 198 of the sliding tool head to bear against a shoulder 199 to move the tool head inwardly when the lever 195 is swung in the proper direction; and a pull back pin 200 extends across said notch 198'to be engaged by the lower end of the operating lever to withdraw said sliding tool head and the tool carried thereby. 1

The said operating lever 195 is'formed at its upper end with a slot'201 through which extends a shaft 202 that is pivoted at 208 to the upper end of the bracket member 185. Said shaft is threaded at its outer end to receive a threaded feed wheel 20%, the hub of which wheel has bearing against the inner face of said operating lever. Surrounding said shaft and interposed between said operating lever and a fixed part of the frame is a spiral compression spring 205 which normally acts on the operating lever 195 to withdraw the sliding tool head from "the flue position] The scrapings from thc'fiue fall into the said hopper 15 that is supported beneath the chamber 14. i The main portion of the bottom of the hopper is inclined towards one 7 side of the machine and said bottom includes the drop door 16 before described.

. From an inspection of Figure 5, it will be noted that the cylinder 161. is provided with an exhaust vent 161 to permit release of air in rear of piston 162 when the flue is being forced backwardly after a cutting-oil operation, and thus prevent the said piston from violent-lyrstriking the cylinder end 163.

It will also be observed thatthe clutch pins 131 are normally held inwardly by an open spring131 which surrounds the clutch and engages grooves in the roughened heads 132 of said v clutch pins or studs. i

1. In a flue cleaning machine, flue supporting elements and rotary driving means, the latter cnga-gcable. with an end oi. a fine,

.a series of lengthwise spaced cleaner elements adapted by gravity for movement from the tube cleaning position, and 'ineans to resiliently press the series-of cleaner ele ments against the exterior of the flue.

2. In a flue cleaning machine, flue supporting elements and rotary driving means,

the latter engageable with an end of a flue,

series of lengthwise spaced Cleaner elements adapted by gravity for movement from the tube cleaning position, and means to resiliently press the series of cleaner elements against the exteior of the flue, each series of cleaner elements comprising a plurality of en'dwise disposed exteriorly toothed rotative rolls independently rotative on their axes. I i h 8. In a line cleaning machine, flue sup porting elements and rotary driving means, the latter engageable with an end of a flue, a series of lengthwise spaced cleanerelements adapted by gravity for movement from the tube cleaning position, and means to resiliently press the series of cleaner elements against the exterior of thetlue, each. series of cleaner elements comprising a plurality of endwise disposed exteriorl'y toothed rotative rolls independently rotative their axes, the cleaner elements of each series being independently rotative on a common axis and exteriorly circumterentially toothed and each element being longitudinally recessed to intersect the teeth of the cleaner elements. I

4. In a fiuecleaning machine, flue supporting elements and rotary driving means, the latter engageable with an end of a flue, a series of rotative toothed cleaner rolls spaced along said support, each comprising a pendant frame to support the axles of the shafts of the rolls and adapted by gravity to swing from thetube cleaning position. and means to resiliently press the series of cleaning rollsagainst the sides of aiflue.

5. A fluecleaning machine comprising an elongated chamber, flue "cleaning devices at the sides of the chamber adapted for relative rolling contact with a flue therein, thrust bars at the sides of the chamber having cam surfaces, cam pins engaging said surfaces and acting to force said cleaners toward each other and the flue cleaning position, and means forgiving endwise movement to said thrust bars to act through said pins onsaid cleaners. a

(3. A flue cleaning machine comprising an elongated chamber, flue cleaning devices at the sides of the chamber adapted for relative rolling contact with a flue therein, thrust bars at the sides oi the chamberhaving cam surfaces, cam pins engaging said surfaces and acting to force said cleaners towardeach other and the flue cleaning position.v means forgiving endwise movement to said thrust bars to act through said pins onsaid cleaners, and means to vary thethrow oi the thrust bars. i V

'7. A line cleaning machine comprising an elongated series of flue clcanerelements at the sides of the cleaning position of a flue,

thrust bars at the sides of the flue cleaning position and having cam surtaees, cam pins engaging said surfaces and act ng to force said cleaner elements toward the flue clean ing position, and means for giving endWise movement to the cams otthe thrust bars.

8. Acflue cleaning machine comprising an elongated series of flue cleaner elements at the sidesotthe cleaning position of a fine, supports at the sides of the flue cleaning position and having cams, cam pins engaging said cams and acting to force said cleaner elements toward the flue cleaning position, means for giving endwise movement to the said cams, and means to vary the throwof the said cams.

9. A flue cleaning machine comprising an elongated series of line cleaner elements at the sides of the cleaning position of a flue thrust bars at the sides of the flue cleaning position to control the movements of the flue cleaner elements, and operating means for the thrust bars en'ibracing a double acting cylinder provided at each end with a controllable air inlet, and a piston in said cylinder connected to said thrust bars.

10. A flue cleaningmachine comprising an elongated series of flue cleaner elements at the sides of the cleaningposition of a flue, thrustbars at the sides of: the flue cleaning position to control the movements of the flue cleaner elements, operating means for the thrust bars embracing affdoubleacting cylin der provided at each end with a controllable air inlet, a piston in saidcylinder having a rod connected to said thrust bars, and means associated with an extension of the piston rod awry the throw of the piston andthe consequent; movement of the cleaner elements toward the flue cleaning position. i

'11. A' fine cleaning machine comprising a series of cleaner rolls mounted on frames to be movable towards andlatroma flue in cleaning position, with means to give relative rotation to theffiue and'rolls, means formov ingthe rolls toward and from the this cleaning position, embracing thrust, bars at the sides or the rolls andia double acting cylinder having a piston therein connected to and operating said thrust bars'.

' 12. Aflue cleaning machinecomprising a series of cleaner rolls mounted on traines to be movableftowards andfrom a fine in cleaning'position, with means to'give relative rotation to the flue and rolls, meansfor moving therolls toward and from the flue cleaning position, embracing tl'irust' hars at the sides of the rolls, and a double acting cylin-' der having a pistontherein connected to and operating said thrust bars" through a resilient connection between said thrust bars and said cleaner elemental i 18. A fine cleaning machine comprising a ies'ot cleaner rolls mounted 'onframes to be movable towards and from atlue in clean]' vingposition, wi h means tolgive relatit e rotationto the fine and rolls,-and means for movingthe rolls towards and trom the this cleaning position, embracing cammed endwise movable thrust bars at the sides of the rolls, means for giving endwise movement to said thrust bars, thrust pins engaging the cams of the thrust bars and yieldingly and resiliently connected to said roll frames, and means to give endwise movement to the thrust bars.

14,. A flue cleaning machine comprising a series of cleaner rolls mounted on frames to be. movable towards and from a fine in cleaning position, with means to give relative rotation to the fine and rolls, and n cans for moving the rolls towards and from the flue cleaning position, embracing canm'ied endwise movable thrust bars at the sides of the rolls, means for giving endwise movement to said thrust bars, thrustpins engaging the cams of the thrust "ban-1:, and elliptical springs connected to said roll frames through which thrust pressure of the said pins is applied to said frames.

15. A flue cleaner comprising an elongated series of pneumatically flue controlled cleaner elements, a pneumatically controlled clutch to engage one end of the flue to rotate it, a pneumatically controlled push on mechanism to endwise engage the fine with said clutch, a source of air supply, pipe connections between said source and the said operating mechanisms, and a series of valves to control said pipe connections located as a bank at one end of the machine, and provided with manually operable handles, whereby the functions of said operating mechanisms can be controlled from a single posit-ion of an operator.

16. A flue cleaner comprising an elongated series of pneumatically flue controlled cleaner elements, a pneumatically controlled clutch to engage one end of the flue to rorate it, a pneumatically controlled push on mechanism to endwise engage the flue with said clutch, a source of air supply, pipe connections between said source and'the said operating mechanisms, and a series of valves to control said pipe connections located as a bank at one end of he machine, and provided with manually operable handles, whereby the functions of said operating mechanisms can be controlled from a single position of an operator, all of said valves being spring operated to close them, and certain of the handles being equipped with cams to lock open the valves thereby controlled, the other levers openingwit-h a snap action when manual pressure is removed therefrom.

17. In flue cleaning machine, the combination with a series of cleaners arranged in an endwise series at the side of a fine cleaning position, driving means engaging an end of the fine to rotate it while in contact with the cleaners, means for severing the flue end at the rotating means while engaged in driving relation therewith, and a throwofil means engaging the flue to d1sconnect it from said driving means and to permit the removal of the cut-off piece and the substitution of a safe end, whereby said safe end may be welded to the flue while in the machine. I

18. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination with a series of cleaners arranged in an endwise series at the side of a flue cleaning position, means engaging an end of the flue to rotate it while in contact with the cleaners, a rockshaft parallel to the flue position while being cut, an eccentric beveled blade carried by and adapted through rocking of said shaft to be brought into cutting relation to the flue end, and means for giving endwise movement to the said rock shaft to separate the flue from the cut-off portion thereof.

19. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination with a series of cleaners, arranged in an endwise series at the sides of a fine cleanin posit-ion, means engaging the end of the fine to rotate it while in contact with the cleaners, a rock shaft parallel to the flue position, an eccentric beveled blade on, and adapted through rocking of, said shaft to be brought into cutting relation with the flue, a cylinder to contain said rock shaft, said rock shaft having a piston which operates in said cylinder, and a valved air connection to the cylinder to give endwise movement to said piston and to said rock shaft.

20. In a flue cleaning machine, the combination with a series of cleaners, arranged in an endwise series at the sides of a flue cleaning position, means engaging the end of the flue to rotate it while incontact with the cleaners, a rock shaft parallel to the flue position, an eccentric beveled blade on, and adapted through rocking of, said shaft to be brought intocutting relation with the flue, a

cylinder to contain said rock shaf" said rock shaft having a piston. which operates in said cylinder, and a valved air connection to the cylinder to give endwise movement to said piston and to said rock shaft, said cylinder being provided near its front end with an exhaust port to avoid clashing of the said piston with the cylinder end.

21. A flue cleaning machine comprising a chamber, a series of flue cleaners endwise disposed along the chamber at one side of a cleaning position of the flue in said chamher, a clutch to engage one end of the flue to rotate it, and a push. on device to engage the other end of the flue to push the flue onto said clutch.

22. A flue cleaning machine comprising a chamber, a series of line cleaners endwise disposed along the'chamber at one side of the cleaning position of the flue in said chamber, a clutch to engage oneend of the flue to rotate it, and a push on device to engage the other end of the flue to push the flue onto said clutch, said push on device I tending through one Wall of the cylinder, a

push on disc fixed to said rod, and means to supply air under pressure to said cylinder.

A flue cleaning machine comprising a chamber, a series of flue cleaners endwise disposed along the chamber at one side of the cleaning position of the flue in said chamber, a clutch to engage one end of the flue to r0- tate it, and a push on device to engage the other end of the flue to push the flue onto said clutch, said push on device embracing a cylinder at the rear end of the machine, a-

piston therein having a rod extending through one Wall of the cylinder, a push on disc fixed to said rod, means to supply air under pressure to said cylinder, and a buffer spring adapted to be compressed between said piston and the end of the cylinder having the function of yieldingly forcing the other end of the flue on the clutch and of retracting the piston.

2-4. A flue cleaning machine. comprising a chamber, an endwise series of flue cleaner elements therein at the side of the flue cleaning position in said chamber, means to. bring the cleaners and flue in operative relation, and means to insert and remove a flue from the chamber comprising a pair of pneumati cally controlled saddles havlng an airconnection to raise them to receive a flue, and

upon opening of the air connection to per init the saddles to drop With a flue to carry the latter into the flue cleaning position.

25. In a flue cleaner, a series of endwise disposed cleaning rolls arranged end to end, and a support therefor embraclng a shaft about Which the rolls turn, the rolls of each,

group being independently rotatable 0n the shaft, and said rolls being exteriorly threaded to form cutting surfaces, said'threads being interrupted to produce angularly spaced cutting edges.

26. In a flue cleaner, a series of endvvise disposed cleaning rolls arranged end to end,

and a support therefor embracing, a shaft aboutwhich the rolls turn, the rolls of each group being independently rotatable on the shaft, and said rolls being exteriorly threaded to form cutting surfaces, and each roll being provided with a plurality of angularly spaced recesses intersecting said threads.

In Witness whereof I claim the foregoing as my invention, I hereunto append my sig nature this 6 day of August, 1924.

JOHN T. MCGRATHK 

